MAX Mosley’s apparent reluctance to resign in the face of mounting criticism has placed extra emphasis on the calling of an Extraordinary General assembly of the FIA. The Statutes which govern the FIA decree that an Extraordinary General Assembly must meet within three months of its announcement, and that its subject is to be outlined via a well- founded draft agenda. Each of the FIA World Councils may then add any item it deems advisable to be dealt with, and must do so in writing at least 35 days before the GA is held. Should a vote of no confidence be called for, a simple majority of 51% will be sufficient to see it passed. Three months may seem like a long time to wait for the GA – however there are mechanisms in place which could allow for a far swifter process. The eight-man Senate is permitted to make decisions “required by the management of the FIA when circumstances do not permit a meeting of the Committee of the General Assembly.” At he same time, the World Motor Sport Council, whose primary purpose is to “see to the enforcement of the Statutes and the International Sporting Code” may “settle any question which cannot await the General Assembly of the FIA to be dealt with subject to the rights of the Committee and of the Senate expressed in these Statutes.” Furthermore it, along with the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, may “present to the General Assembly its recommendations for the admission and the striking off the rolls or expelling of FIA Members, as well as for any sanctions which might be imposed.” The WMSC and WCAMT together form the FIA Committee. Despite their power to recommend members for expulsion being enshrined in the Statutes, Article 27 which covers expulsions and sanctions states that only “Clubs, Associations or Federations which, in the opinion of either of the World Councils, have seriously infringed the regulations of the FIA may be liable to expulsion” The World Motor Sport Council however, “may directly impose the sanctions provided for in the International Sporting Code, and where appropriate the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism may impose fines on or demand the exclusion from FIA bodies or international sporting events of licence holders, executive officers or members of ASNs or ACNs… who by words, deeds or writings have inflicted moral injury and loss on the FIA, a World Council, their Members or their executive officers.” The question being raised in all this is whether the President of the FIA comes under the banner of an ‘Executive Officer’? His role is not clearly defined in the statutes – although as a member of the Senate it follows that he is thus a member of the FIA and is subject to its statutes and thus its sanctions. GA could be three months away Michel Boeri: Head of the FIA Senate, FIA WMSC Vice- President and Chairman of the Automobile Club of Monaco. Marco Piccinini: FIA Deputy- President. Former Ferrari F1 Sporting Director. Close ties to Ferrari could rule him out on the grounds of impartiality. Nick Craw: President of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States. Peter Meyer: Head of the ADAC and the first to call for Mosley’s resignation Robert Darbelnet: Head of the American AA who also called for Mosley’s resignation and represents over 50 million motorists. Alan Evans: Head of the Australian Automobile Association, whose name was mentioned strongly over the weekend. Jean Todt: Rumours have linked the former Ferrari F1 supremo to the role of FIA President, but his links to Mosley could work against him. Ron Dennis: As the man who has become seen in recent times as Mosley’s arch nemesis, the McLaren boss could be an outside shot for the role of FIA President. His Business Forum speech in the week before the Bahrain Grand Prix was seen by many as a manifesto of sorts. Charlie Whiting: A seemingly random inclusion to the list, but a man whose impartiality and respect, not only throughout Formula 1 but the motorsport world at large, could serve him well. A Committee: Replacing the role of FIA President with that of yet another Committee would not be an easy task, and would necessitate a complete re-writing of the FIA Statutes. Given the apparent confusion surrounding those Statutes, as highlighted over the past week however, that might be no bad thing. If Max goes, who will replace him? GPWeek studies the form ... F1 NEWS >>